Hyperbranched Polyethyleneimine-Coordinated Copper(II) Metallopolymers with Preferential Targeting to Prostate Cancer...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biochemistry
• Oncology

Background:

• Elevated copper levels are observed in various cancers, including prostate cancer.
• Copper chelators and metallopolymers are being investigated for selective cancer treatment.
• Hyperbranched polyethyleneimine (PEI) possesses strong copper-chelating properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop PEI:Cu metallopolymers using PEI's copper-chelating ability.
• To evaluate the selectivity and anticancer properties of these metallopolymers against prostate cancer cell lines.

Main Methods:

• PEI:Cu complexes were synthesized at specific PEI/Cu ratios to avoid free copper ions.
• Metallopolymer derivatives were tested against a non-cancerous cell line (HEK293) and three prostate cancer cell lines (PC3, DU145).

Main Results:

• PEI:Cu derivatives demonstrated cytotoxicity against metastatic prostate cancer cell lines (PC3, DU145) at low concentrations (5 μg/mL).
• Insignificant cytotoxicity was observed in non-cancerous HEK293 cells up to 50 μg/mL.
• Cytotoxic effects were linked to mitochondrial membrane potential loss and increased ROS production.

Conclusions:

• Hyperbranched polyethyleneimine-coordinated copper(II) metallopolymers selectively induce cytotoxicity in metastatic prostate cancer cells.
• These metallopolymers do not compromise the viability of non-cancerous embryonic kidney cells at low concentrations.